Mohamed Salah has been one of the defining players of Liverpool’s Premier League era — a club legend whose goals, consistency, and hunger helped transform the Reds into domestic and European champions. But according to legendary broadcaster Adrian Durham, the Egyptian icon is now part of Liverpool’s biggest problem.

Speaking on talkSPORT’s Breakfast Show on Monday, Durham didn’t hold back in his assessment of the 33-year-old forward, arguing that manager Arne Slot must make the bold call to drop Salah from the starting lineup if the team is to rediscover its rhythm.

Liverpool’s slump and Salah’s struggle

Liverpool’s latest defeat — their fifth in six Premier League matches — has plunged the club into crisis territory. Once again, the Reds looked disjointed and out of ideas, falling behind early and struggling to recover. Despite Salah’s glittering legacy, Durham believes his recent performances have been emblematic of a wider malaise.

“Salah is the biggest issue Liverpool have right now,” Durham said. “Yes, he’s scored goals this season — five in 16 matches — but is that enough to excuse his lack of defensive effort? He’s clearly not working hard enough going the other way, and when you’re not producing match-winning moments every week, that becomes a problem.”

Durham added that while Salah’s attacking instinct remains sharp, his reluctance to track back and press from the front has disrupted the team’s defensive shape — a key element of Liverpool’s high-energy philosophy under both Jurgen Klopp and now Slot.

“It takes a brave manager to drop a player of Salah’s stature,” Durham continued. “But if Slot wants to build his team identity, he can’t have passengers. Salah’s earned his place in Liverpool history, but no one is above the system.”

Wirtz caught in the storm

Much of the post-match analysis centered on Florian Wirtz, Liverpool’s £116.5 million summer signing from Bayer Leverkusen, who has yet to register a single Premier League goal involvement.

The 22-year-old German international was deployed as an inside-left midfielder against Manchester City, a tactical tweak inspired by club legend Jamie Carragher’s pre-match comments. However, Wirtz once again failed to make an impression in the 3-0 defeat.

“I thought he looked like a little boy lost,” co-host Jeff Stelling said on talkSPORT, echoing the sentiments of many supporters frustrated by the midfielder’s slow start in England.

Durham, however, was quick to defend Wirtz, insisting that his struggles are symptomatic of Liverpool’s broader dysfunction rather than individual failure.

“I’ve watched Wirtz for years, and he’s been brilliant,” Durham said. “He’s not the problem. When Liverpool fix their bigger issues — the team shape, the defensive balance — players like Wirtz will start to thrive. But right now, everything feels off.”

A call for bold decisions

Durham’s remarks reignited debate among fans about whether Salah, long seen as untouchable, might benefit from a spell out of the lineup. The broadcaster believes Slot must be decisive — even if it means upsetting one of the club’s most decorated players.

“Dropping Mo Salah regularly, not just as a one-off, takes guts,” Durham said. “But if Liverpool want to play modern, pressing football, they can’t carry anyone. With the likes of Alexander Isak, Hugo Ekitike, and others who can play across the front line, there are options.”

The legend and the legacy

Few would deny Salah’s monumental impact at Anfield. With over 200 goals for the club and countless individual honors, he is etched in Liverpool history. Yet football, as Durham pointed out, is unforgiving — sentiment can’t outweigh performance.

“Mo Salah is still Liverpool’s greatest Premier League player,” Durham concluded. “But right now, he’s also their biggest issue. Slot has to find the courage to make that call — for the good of the team, and maybe even for Salah himself.”

As Liverpool’s title hopes continue to fade, Slot faces the first real test of his tenure — finding a way to balance respect for icons of the past with the ruthless decisions required for the club’s future.